Motherwell slipped to defeat in the Premiership for the fourth time in five games as title-chasing Rangers struck twice in the second half to claim victory at Fir Park.
Both sides went into the clash with depleted squads but Rangers eventually found the energy to rally from their 7-1 annihilation at the hands of Liverpool in the Champions League and go back to within two points of Celtic at the top of the table.
The Steelmen kept Rangers at bay during a dire first half, but a moment of magic from Malik Tillman and a John Lundstrum header put the visitors 2-0 up before Stuart McKinstry's free-kick going into the final 10 minutes proved to be just a consolation for Steven Hammell's men.
Motherwell, who stay eighth in the table, were looking for a home league win over the Light Blues for the first time in nearly 20 years, but that wait will go on a little longer.
Motherwell made three changes from last week's 1-0 defeat away to Hibernian. Jo Efford, Blair Spittal and the suspended Connor Shields dropped out of the squad completely to be replaced by Ross Tierney, Josh Morris and Stuart McKinstry.
And there was no place in the squad for Louis Moult either, with the striker missing through injury.
Meanwhile, van Bronckhorst rung the changes - though not as many as had been expected - following their nightmare 7-1 hammering at home to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
They made three alterations and some were enforced by injury with Connor Goldson, who will be sidelined for months after his injury in the Liverpool loss, dropped out to be replaced by Leon King at the heart of the defence, while Ryan Jack made way for Malik Tillman afterhe hobbled off in midweek. Fashion Sakala fell to the bench with Rabbi Matondo getting the nod.
Rangers were first to threaten in the third minute when Ryan Kent attempted one-two with Tillman on the edge of the box and it took a favourable deflection that allowed him to squeeze a shot away, but Liam Kelly in the Motherwell goal was equal to it.
Moments later a Borna Barisic cross was cleared by Sondre Solholm straight to the feet of Tillman and his curling effort from 12 yards flew over the target.
It took Motherwell 14 minutes to show any real threat to the opposition goal and when Sean Goss tried to slip van Veen in on the left-hand side of the Rangers box, Allan McGregor was out quickly to smother the ball before the Dutchman could get on the end of it.
Rangers made half-hearted claims for a penalty in 18 minutes when Tillman went to ground under pressure from Solholm in the box, but referee David Dickinson wasn't interested.
In the 33rd minute former Ibrox man Sean Goss had a good opportunity to test McGregor 25-yards out when Scott Arfield halted the run of Ross Tierney. From the free-kick, however, the midfidler fired his effort straight into the wall and half-time arrived with the sides locked level.
Neither manager went to their bench at the break, but something was needed to try and bring the game to life.
And Antonio Colak really should have given Rangers the lead four minutes into the second half when Barisic's cross picked him out perfectly in the centre of the box, but the Croat steered his header wide of the target.
Seconds later Goss played in van Veen and the Dutchman, with 'Well's first shot on target, forced a fine save from McGregor as he got down well to keep out his low angled drive.
That flurry of chances brought the game to life and in the 53rd minute Rangers found the breakthrough.
Tillman collected the ball inside the Motherwell half and was allowed the freedom of Fir Park to run straight through their defence, negotiating his way past five players in claret and amber before firing the ball past Kelly. It was all far too easy for Motherwell's liking, but just the spark Rangers were looking for.
Motherwell were dealt a further blow when Ricki Lamie hobbled off injured and was replaced by Bevis Mugabi at the heart of the defence.
And it wasn't long before Rangers doibled their lead. Barisic whipped in a corner from the left right on top of the Motherwell defence and Lundstrum stooped to nod the ball beyond Kelly.
It looked like game over but Motherwell pulled one back when McKinstry's curling free-kick out wide sailed over McGregor and into the top corner. The winger was likely trying a cross into the box, but the Fir Park faithful didn't care as their team were given a glimmer of hope.
Lundstrum fired over with five minutes remaining and McKinstry was almost through on goal for 'Well when he pounced on a lapse in the Rangers defence, only to be brought down by Leon King who picked up just a booking.
Motherwell kept pushing into the four minutes of added on time but Rangers held out for the win.
The Steelmen now face another huge test on Wednesday night when they host Celtic in the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup.
MOTHERWELL: Kelly, McGinn, Solholm-Johansen, Lamie (Mugabi 58), Penney, Goss, Slattery (Cornelius 89), Tierney, Morris, McKinstry, van Veen.
Scorers: McKinstry 77
Bookings: Goss, van Veen
Subs not used: Oxborough, O'Donnell, Maguire, Miller, Ross, Fernie.
RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, King, Davies, Barisic, Lundstrum, Arfield (Davis 58), Tillman, Matondo (Wright 65), Kent, Colak (Morelos 81).
Scorers: Tillman 53, Lundstrum 69
Bookings: Arfield, Tavernier, Wright, King
Subs not used: McLaughlin, Ridvan Sands, Morelos, McCann, Fashion Jr, Devine.
Ref: David Dickinson
HT: 0-0
Att: 8,498
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